Public transit drivers and their employer met this week with a mediator, but still haven’t managed to reach a settlement.
Gavin Davies with Unifor, which represents drivers in Campbell River and the Comox Valley, says after two days of talks the sides are getting closer to an agreement, but unless BC Transit steps in to supply additional funding to the service contractor to cover wage increases, nothing is likely to get resolved.
“The biggest sticking now point is wages,” he says. “However, both parties have agreed to further mediation, so we’re waiting to set up dates in the coming weeks for that.”
Public transit in the Comox Valley and Campbell River has suffered from a shortage of drivers during the past year. Service contractor PWTransit says it is actively recruiting, but Davies says it also needs to pay higher wages, matching other similar-sized communities.
The union has not yet voted to strike and Davies says they will do their best to minimize disruptions for riders while continuing to seek a settlement.
In the meantime, passengers in both regions should check BC Transit’s service notices page regularly as route cancellations are usually announced the night before.
